Proteomic and histopathological characterisation of sicca subjects and primary Sjögren’s syndrome patients reveals promising tear, saliva and extracellular vesicle disease biomarkers

Table 2 Clinical characteristics of pSS patients included in the study

Patient no.	Age	Gender	Anti-SSA*	Anti-SSB*	Focus score**	GC	FI score***	Schirmer test****	Saliva secretion *****	Dry mouth	Dry eyes
1	48	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	+	+	+
2	59	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	+	+	+
3	52	F	+	+	8	+	1	+	+	+	+
4	54	F	+	–	1	–	2	+	+	–	+
5	60	F	+	+	3	+	1	+	+	–	–
6	64	F	+	–	0	–	1	+	+	+	+
7	55	F	+	–	0	–	2	+	+	+	+
8	50	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	–	+	+
9	35	F	+	+	3	+	0	+	+	–	–
10	75	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	–	+	+

F female, GC germinal centres, FI fatty infiltration
*Autoantibody production was assessed by ELISA
**Values are the number of focal infiltrates/4mm² tissue area containing > 50 mononuclear cells
***The degree of fatty infiltration was assessed and the sections were scored blindly, where no or little fatty infiltration = 0, moderate = 1, and prominent = 2
****Values are in mm/5 min; normal flow > 5 mm/5 min. ‘+’ indicates dryness and tear secretion ≤ 5 mm/5 min
*****Values are in ml/15 min; normal flow > 1.5 ml/15 min. ‘+’ indicates dryness and unstimulated whole saliva secretion ≤ 1.5 ml/15 min

ISSN: 1478-6362

Patient no.	Age	Gender	Anti-SSA*	Anti-SSB*	Focus score**	GC	FI score***	Schirmer test****	Saliva secretion *****	Dry mouth	Dry eyes
1	48	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	+	+	+
2	59	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	+	+	+
3	52	F	+	+	8	+	1	+	+	+	+
4	54	F	+	–	1	–	2	+	+	–	+
5	60	F	+	+	3	+	1	+	+	–	–
6	64	F	+	–	0	–	1	+	+	+	+
7	55	F	+	–	0	–	2	+	+	+	+
8	50	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	–	+	+
9	35	F	+	+	3	+	0	+	+	–	–
10	75	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	–	+	+

Patient no.	Age	Gender	Anti-SSA*	Anti-SSB*	Focus score**	GC	FI score***	Schirmer test****	Saliva secretion *****	Dry mouth	Dry eyes
1	48	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	+	+	+
2	59	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	+	+	+
3	52	F	+	+	8	+	1	+	+	+	+
4	54	F	+	–	1	–	2	+	+	–	+
5	60	F	+	+	3	+	1	+	+	–	–
6	64	F	+	–	0	–	1	+	+	+	+
7	55	F	+	–	0	–	2	+	+	+	+
8	50	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	–	+	+
9	35	F	+	+	3	+	0	+	+	–	–
10	75	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	–	+	+

Patient no.	Age	Gender	Anti-SSA*	Anti-SSB*	Focus score**	GC	FI score***	Schirmer test****	Saliva secretion *****	Dry mouth	Dry eyes
1	48	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	+	+	+
2	59	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	+	+	+
3	52	F	+	+	8	+	1	+	+	+	+
4	54	F	+	–	1	–	2	+	+	–	+
5	60	F	+	+	3	+	1	+	+	–	–
6	64	F	+	–	0	–	1	+	+	+	+
7	55	F	+	–	0	–	2	+	+	+	+
8	50	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	–	+	+
9	35	F	+	+	3	+	0	+	+	–	–
10	75	F	+	+	–	–	–	+	–	+	+